Mother, stepfather of murdered 8-year-old arrested after standoff with police
Oct 15, 2014, 7:23 PM | Updated: Oct 16, 2014, 2:27 pm
The mother and stepfather of 8-year-old Isabella Grogan-Cannella, who was murdered and buried in a shallow grave last month, were reportedly arrested after a standoff with Bullhead City police.
Authorities went to the home of Tonia Grogan and Ralph Folster to investigate meth-related charges.
Last month, a Mohave County grand jury charged Justin James Rector with the child’s murder.
Rector, 26, is being held without bond in the Mohave County Jail. Police said Cannella was strangled to death.
The girl was discovered wearing the same green, ruffled, sparkly tank top she had on when she was last seen, police said. However, authorities said she didn’t have any clothing on her lower half.
Rector has been described as a family friend who was staying at Isabella’s home at the time she disappeared. Police said he has a lengthy criminal history.
Bullhead City is on the Arizona-Nevada border about 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
